High street jewellery giants struggle to sparkle Retail Growth seems to be hard to come by in almost any industry at the moment, especially as UK business leaders brace for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to deliver her expected tax hikes later this month. But the latest set of financial results for two of the country’s largest jewellery chains has shone a spotlight on the [...]
Versace: UK sales slashed again as profit almost wiped out Retail Sales at the UK arm of fashion house Versace have been slashed by a fifth for a second consecutive year as the downturn in luxury spending continues. The division has reported a turnover of £15.2m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, new accounts filed with Companies House have revealed. The latest total is [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Shawbrook confirms IPO; Aston Martin hit by tariffs Markets Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. After a worryingly-long drought, the London IPO market roared back to life this morning following a shot in the arm last week. Shawbrook has kicked off the week putting the City on the front foot after confirming intentions of a float. It’s a major boost, one that [...]
Frasers Group chairman urges Unite to avoid ‘reckless’ strike October 3, 2025 The chairman of retail giant Frasers Group has urged Unite the Union to avoid “reckless and irresponsible” strike action as retail firms across the UK feel the crunch of rising cost pressures. Sir Jonathan Thompson, who took the role of Chair in September, has asked the Union’s General Secretary Sharon Graham to reconsider plans to [...]
Profit slashed at Mike Ashley-backed Hugo Boss September 10, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of Hugo Boss, which counts Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group as a major shareholder, has been slashed for a second consecutive year. The London-headquartered division of the German group has posted a pre-tax profit of £9m for 2024, down from the £16.8m it achieved in 2023 and £30.4m in 2022. New [...]
Price of fresh food pushes up Brits’ supermarket bills July 29, 2025 Higher wholesale prices for meat and tea have pushed up grocery prices at UK supermarkets, with warnings of more inflation ahead. Food inflation increased to four per cent year-on-year in July, against growth of 3.7 per cent in June and above the three-month average of 3.5 per cent. Fresh food rose in price by 3.2 [...]
Mike Ashley’s investments double to £1bn thanks to Hugo Boss shares July 17, 2025 The total value of the stakes Mike Ashley’s empire holds in the likes of Hugo Boss, AO World and Boohoo have doubled to £1bn in just over a year, it has been revealed. According to the group’s latest financial results, which have been filed with the London Stock Exchange, the value of its investments in [...]
Mike Ashley tightens grip on Hugo Boss amid dividend demand July 4, 2025 Frasers Group, the retail empire controlled by billionaire Mike Ashley, has tightened its grip on Hugo Boss after upping its stake. The owner of Sports Direct and House of Fraser has increased its shareholding in the German giant to in excess off 32 per cent. In a statement, Frasers Group said it “continues to consider [...]
What’s behind the post-pandemic tumble in Diageo and Pernod Ricard shares? June 25, 2025 Two of the world’s biggest drinks companies, Diageo and Pernod Ricard, have had a bruising time of it on the stock market in the last two years. Since mid-2023, shares in Pernod Ricard have dropped nearly 60 per cent, while market leader Diageo has seen its share price fall over 40 per cent. A lot [...]
Sunny spring boosts grocers as Brits buy 2,400 packs of strawberries every minute June 24, 2025 The UK’s unusual burst of sun boosted purchases of fruit and ice lollies this spring, although food inflation continued to soar at the UK’s grocers. Higher prices for fresh meats, chocolate and butters drove food inflation to 4.7 per cent, its highest level since February 2024, according to data insights group Kantar. But Fraser McKevitt, [...]